Does Zafirovski Keep Hackney?

Joel Hackney is the very essence of how Nortel execs behave. The “I’m better than you” attitude, the condescending demeanor, the cowardice, the abuse.

Mike Z, you have made yourself proud with this find. I bet you’ll groom him to be your “mini’me”.

Joel – I dare yout o do what you did to that student to a MAN. but you never will as you lack a pair. I’d happily way this to your face too, after I grab it and do a bit of rearranging to it.

I think Narf 9 is on to something. Our executives could not abide by the ethics set forth for the rest of the Nortel population and Susan quit.

It is sad that we drive the best people out of our organizations. We have lost some of the best employees to our competators. I am sure this will help a few more of them make a decision to leave Nortel.

I have often wondered why Z came to NT. He already has the money, and I am left with wanting his ego stroked for leading one of the most dramatic comebacks of a telecom company.

JJH should be fired. Period and I would bet 100% SS would sing like a parrot if her severance package did not limit from speaking publicly. No doubt it is the reason she left.

Bottom line any company must have the admiration of its employees if it truely wants to be a success in the market. Short term is one thing…just ask Roth or Dunn, but MikeZ has lost the battle given few of his employees can look him in the face with any respect.

If he was going to do anything, he would have done it by now. I am sure ESAT feedback with provide MikeZ lots of opinions on JJH.

Good news though, karma always comes your way and one day JJH will find someone honking at him that has a big person in the back seat and a woman driving. Bubba will get out and give ol Jesse the beatdown of his life!

I do hope it is captured and posted on Utube though

My Husband works in Hackney’s org. He says that Joel will never be taken seriously by his organization again. He needs to come forward and explain what he did was wrong….but doesn’t figure he will and because of that is seen as a disgrace to Nortel. Regardless if this was in his personal life or not, he has to lead by example. Wonder if he bought the basketball game tickets or if they were Nortel seats? If they were Nortel seats….this is a Company matter….not a personal matter. If hubby got tickets and F’d up…..he’d be a goner by now. My hubby equates Joel to that pencil neck geek in high school who is now taking his revenge on the world for all those wedgies he received back in the day. Rose to the top too fast, he’s cocky and arrogant which is very clear by the comments he made to Alicia. Figures he can do whatever he wants and if anyone steps in his way, its payback for the wedgies. Very well Joel. You are doing what you want. Acting a fool and disrespected by your staff. Carry on dork!!!

Miek Z and his inaction has send a clear and direct message that executives that assault women are ethical and acceptable to him. The next time he has a GIS, I would LOVE for someone ask him whay he accepts a woman beater as part of his canibet. Disgusting. Mike Z, you should quit.

congradulations- longtime Nortel employee,that was a well thought outv and balanced assessment of the current situation invloving Mr.Hackney allegations.

As I would imagine you are already cognizant of the fact that people tend to act upon in a herd like mentality,thus the reason for the majority of the anti Joel Hackney posts.

Well…after reading all the above comments. It seems to me that all Nortel employees, both current and x-employees need to attend anger management courses. With all the “mature” advice and language being used to make suggestions to Mike Z and Nortel, really makes me wonder as a non-employee what kind of people are you. Did you see this incident take place? NO. Only JJH, AO and GOD really know what took place that evening. Stop taking this story and using it as a way to make jabs at a person you didn’t like while working for Nortel. No matter who you may be. You don’t know the real truth. Stop judging people by what position they hold in a company. It is sad that most likely, 90% of you people that have commented in this blog do not even know JJH. I have worked for both large and small companies. Typically the people listed at the bottom of the hierarchy are the first to make judgments because they just wish they could be in the “higher” position… making all the bucks. If JJH was just another UNC student and AO accused him of these actions….it would have been considered a 30 second disagreement. How sad the world has become. You try running a division of 10,000 + employees and see if everyone in your division will like you!!! Good for you if you left Nortel because you didn’t like how things were ran. What in the world does your decision in leaving the company have anything to do with this incident. Go do your current job, that is, if you have one.

As an ethical employee, he should resign from Nortel rather than being asked to leave. If brought the company into disrepute because of his personal tirade, then he should resign. How can expect to get the respect if he stays on?

I work with JH and will attest to his integrity and leadership. It is ashamed that so many judgmental people are leaving such ignorant comments.

Here is a link to the JDRF fundraiser that Hackney was corporate chair for. What have you ever done for anyone?

@NOT A Nortel employee Says: you miss the point here. JJH stepped out of his car and offended AO. The Nortel employees here express their anger. They don’t go and touch Joel or offend him. That’s the difference, we have our anger under control. though we are angry we don’t go and behave like lunatics.
Ok, some comments here are really ugly, but that’s a minority.
And of course we don’t know the whole story. But even if JH was stressed, pissed of and in a real bad mood, grabbing a girls face, inviting her commillitone to get out of the car, that’s too much. She said she was terrfied and shaking after the incident and had to pull over after it. Executive or plumber, this is a no.
And keep in mind, he is responsible for many employees, young grils, experienced women, young and old man, managers and low level emloyees. Such a person needs self control especially under stress. I also miss the explanation for his behaviour, but it cannot be excused.

I’m sure if I did this, I’d be collecting unemployment. Unfortunately, it was done by a high profile executive. These people just can’t act this way then expect to be looked up to as saviors of the company. There is no excuse for grabbing another person’s face. If JJH has any integrity or any concern for the company, he will leave. Or if Mike Z has any, he will let him go.

To “NOT A Nortel employee” are you really JJH? “Only JJH, AO, and GOD really know what took place that evening” are you kidding? Who cares if I know him? I didn’t know Jeffrey Dahmer, either. And about us “bottom” people, what are you, an elitist? No, us bottom dwellers that have stayed with company are hoping for some leadership at the top to bring Nortel back and be proud again.

He assulted some one for God’s sake. Open your eyes, idiot.

correction: Anger Management only helps people who want help.

Just sent out internally to employees:

All of us at Nortel have an obligation to act with personal and professional integrity. These behaviors are the hallmarks of great leaders and great companies. I place as high a value on integrity and ethics as I do our goals of driving superior performance and business results.

As many of you know, there has been great concern recently because of an incident involving one of our co-workers and a leader, Joel Hackney. Given the nature of this incident I want to personally restate our commitment to ethics and integrity and share the action we have taken.

Last October, following a basketball game that he attended with his wife and children, Joel was involved in an incident that resulted in him entering into a consent agreement, which means he is required to complete certain actions by May 2007 before the charges will be completely dismissed.

Nortel takes this incident very seriously and, for the last six days, Chief Compliance Officer Bob Bartzokas has led a rigorous review involving numerous external and internal interviews (the internal interviews were with employees in and outside of Joel’s organization). This process was comprehensive in nature and I want to assure you that we took full account of all the employee input and response we’ve received regarding the incident.

Bob and the Compliance Committee completed their review and concluded the October incident was isolated. The Committee recommended certain appropriate actions and advised the board of directors of its findings and recommendations. The specific details of the actions will remain private, as they would for any Nortel employee.

Joel deeply regrets this incident and the impact it is having on everyone concerned. Knowing my intent to update you today, he asked me to share the following statement:

“I want you to know that I am taking full responsibility for the consequences of my actions. I have also communicated my personal apology to Ms. Ogden. I know this incident has caused embarrassment for my family, my employer and my co-workers. I am truly sorry.”

Joel is a leader with an important mandate who will need to continue to challenge his team to perform at world-class levels while exemplifying our leadership and core values. His track record includes very strong results and his leadership capability has been validated by employee assessments (as recent as December 2006), which included feedback from all of his direct reports. That said, I know Joel is taking this incident very seriously and will use it to work to become an even better leader.

I am absolutely confident of Joel’s ability to execute our business objectives, and he has given me his full assurance that he will hold to the highest ethical and professional standards expected of a Nortel leader.

Mike Z

To the Psychiatrist:

You wrote “I recall the girl in question walked away in one piece, no blood or trauma to the body”. Either you are a wanna-be psychiatrist or you suck at your job. Since when does a “psychiatrist” say “there was no blood or trauma to the body” so therefore there was no harm. Your stupidity ceases to amaze me. You are either Joel’s drinking buddy or a poor excuse for a psychiatrist hired to get Joel’s sorry ass out of this embarassing situation that HE caused. You seem to think he has had a huge positive effect on Nortel during his short tenure. Don’t confuse the temporary rise in stock price with success.

The company has had to make some tough decisions in the last several years. People don’t resent Mike Z because they feel he is trying to do what is required to keep the company successful in the long-run. Then there is Joel whose arrogance and lack of knowledge of the telecommunications industry has resulted in declining CSAT, ESAT, and product quality. But he’s only in it for the short-term and then plans to walk away with millions and an even bigger EGO. He was brought in to restore Nortel’s image but instead has caused more harm. He should be FIRED WITH CAUSE and walk away with nothing.

Long-Time Employee,

As another long-time employee, I’m disappointed you didn’t stick to the facts which are:

* Joel started the whole incident by cutting this young lady off.
* She honked her horn (a natural reaction to someone cutting you off).
* He got out of his car to confront and intimidate a 21-year old GIRL.
* He GRABBED HER FACE.
* When she asked him to stop he said he would DO WHAT HE WANTS.
* When the young lady in the back seat asked him to please leave them
alone, he asked her to get out of the car so he could teach her a lesson.
* When faced with the facts, he wasn’t MAN enough to admit he was
wrong. Instead he brushed it off as a MINOR incident.

What other FACTS do you need? What kind of MAN does this? A very SMALL one. Why do you make excuses for his behavior? Nortel was once the best company out there. To not be angry at someone who does everything they can to destroy Nortel’s reputation and future just means you don’t have the backbone to stand up for what is right. You know what that means? You may have a future in Hackney’s cabinet. He likes to surround himself with YES men! After all, it’s his way or the highway.

You say “Let he who has never sinned cast the first stone”. In the many years I’ve been at Nortel, I have NEVER met another employee who behaved as unprofessionally as he did. To suggest that we all behave this badly sometimes is ludicrous. Too bad she didn’t have a STONE to throw in his “Doogey-Howser” face when he tried to grab her. Get rid of him.

For you “GladIamgone”…………..It’s only “total disdain and disgust” if this incident actually happend the way AO claimed it did. AGAIN…you were not at the scene. Two sides to every story. If the story had been a top exec. approached a car full of young men and they got in an argument after Hackney cut them off….. this whole thing would not have been even mentioned. Think about it….It’s a great story. Top exec. from Nortel threatens innocent young lady after leaving a UNC event. Girl was shaking from fear. What is that? She had three witnesses in the car..(so the story is told). Are you telling me one of them couldn’t jump out and call for help if that is truely how the story went. My knowledge of UNC parking lots is they typically have security guard stations around each level. With the typical UNC event’s traffic congestion, no one else noticed this situation taking place? And if she was really upset by his actions, what kind of excuse is not taking him to court because I don’t want to miss a week of classes? That sounds like, “it wasn’t that bad”. It’s sounding like she is second guessing the actual situation and maybe regretful for taking it this far. (just a thought)

If I was assaulted like she claimed, I would have done whatever it took to make sure that person pay for their actions. Even if it meant missing a week of classes. But…that’s just me!

Good for you that you’ve left a company that you were obviously not happy with. But again….what does that have to do with this incident? The pulic is making this a public matter. I’m certain that If JJH was the mail carrier of Nortel, this wouldn’t have been an issue at ALL!!!!!!! Good luck with your non Nortel career.

Do you really think this is an isolated incident? Top execs get to the top by being of a ruthless or I-only-care-about-myself sort of nature. Probably its just that, this time, this woman filed charges. And he happened to be a top exec at the the time at a company where observers are quick to jump on any dirt. The incident is not related to the company. He is making amends. It would have been foolish for ZMan to tie this event to his value in the company. And if ZMan knows Joel, he already knows his nature. The incident will be forgotten. Having said that, I sure there’s a lot we don’t know about the incident, and that’s the way they want to keep it.

“The pulic is making this a public matter.”

Unbeknownst to you, any matters involving the legal system are PUBLIC MATTERS.

You break the law, it’s the STATE vs. YOU, and as far as I know, the Sate and its courts are a matter of public record.

A Message for Mike Z….

You are trying to change the culture…good for you
The employees, the customers, the street want to believe in you..
Zero Tolerance was your bar…you set it for the company
You also implemented a program called “Say Do”
This is a gut check time… what will you Do (the 30 second comment by Joel should be your key)
Do you understand that you have now set a precedent and it isn’t Zero Tolerance
Many of us hoped that you were the leader you proclaim to be

The pulic (sic) is making this a public matter.
–

When Hackney referred the incident to Nortel PR, he made it a Nortel issue. Nortel was wrong not confront this issue immediately after it happen. It might explain why Susan Shephard left in November. In way it kind of tells you the kind of behavior Mike Z will put with for profit at any cost. Had this been someone Mike Z had not hired, I doubt they would still be around. Its clearly two sets of rules – one set for anyone Mike Z has hired and another set for everyone else. Credibility is the foundation of leadership and Mike Z and Nortel have none left.

I’d just accepted a voluntary severance package when the Hackney Rage story broke. I was beginning to wonder if I’d made the right decision, but, hey, thanks Mike and Joel, I’m now convinced I’m right to leave.

After nearly twenty years with the company I’m delighted to take the money and wipe the dust of Nortel from my feet.

Just read the article “Nortel stands behind exec after assault case”. It now appears that JH was ready to take on 4 collage girls. Is anything being done to keep this guy off UNC property? Besides missing a couple of games.

As a long-time female employee of Nortel, I am humiliated and embarrassed by Hackney’s action. All employees are required to take online ethics ‘courses’. I would like to know if the execs are required to take these also. If Hackney stays, it will be very degrading to the female employees. There is no excuse for an assault on ANYBODY! Hackney obviously has no remorse, since he admitted to not giving it much thought (oh, and what an example for him to have done this in front of his children!!!). Other employees agreed with me that if one of us ‘lowly employees’ was to do this, we would be kicked-out in 2 seconds! We need execs who can lead by example, not their empty words! Mike Z – take note of his reaction to the girl of “I’ll do whatever I want”. That is not someone we need in our company!

This continues to simmer in the background in conversations with employees around Nortel and everytime it is mentioned, people just shake their heads in disbelief over the decision by Mike Z. A long time ago I was on the receiving end of this kind of behavior in my personal life. So, it doesn’t set well with me – at all. I can’t help but wonder what his wife goes through. I have been there and it’s not something I care to think about. And as others have stated before, what must the female employee’s under him think?? And it’s not just a female issue, it’s an issue for everyone at Nortel. And to everyone on here who says “if it had been a car full of guys, blah blah blah, and “give him a break, he might have been in a shitty mood”, or “I do work for him and can attest to his integrity” (and then encloses a link for some fundraiser he chaired) here’s what I say to that. BULLSH–. Road rage is one of the human behaviors that has been studied extensively and is watched for by Highway Patrol and I don’t believe I recall it being subject to a male/female based criteria. And give him a break b/c he’s in a bad mood???? I don’t think I will even bother to put my 2 cents in on that one. To the person who works for him – great, I am glad you are proud to work for him – I wouldn’t be. Since when does a good deed negate bad behavior?? Pulleeezzzze.

Personal Effectiveness
Operations chief Hackney, who was the centre of some bad publicity recently over an apparent road rage episode in North Carolina, received a $195,500 cash bonus on March 15. Nortel said the bonus was calculated under an incentive program and, “in respect of the individual performance factor, was awarded in recognition of his accomplishments and personal effectiveness during 2006.”
To be fair, Nortel used identical words to describe payments to other executives.
Hackney, the top Nortel executive at the Raleigh research operations, negotiated a plea agreement with prosecutors involving payment, donations, apologies and anger management courses. He grabbed the face of a female university student in a parking lot dispute following a basketball event last fall at the University of North Carolina. Following an investigation, Nortel decided the episode was an isolated incident. According to his employment contract, Nortel would have to pay Hackney $1.26 million in severance — 18 months’ pay, benefits and options — if he was fired. However, the payments are not due “if this separation of employment arises out of conduct and/or inaction by Hackney that are not in the best interest of Nortel.”

What this tells me is “This is the Way” we handle our issues. If you are a “buddy” you get a slap on the wrist. If you are a good manager you get laid off. Get rid of them all and start over, Hackney, Lower, Crosby, Downing. You name them, they arent worth anything. This company will be run into the ground by Mike Z. We pay 10 million just to get him? Ridiculous, I want results and more pay.

Morale is in the toilet and it is a result of all of this BS.